News

Rasta for the Sevens Final

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 18:42

The Rugby World Cup Sevens ended in Moscow on Sunday with a Final between New Zealand and England, and the referee to see fair play was Rasta Rasivhenge of South Africa,

In announcing the referee, famous commentator, Nigel Starmer-Smith, who in his day played scrumhalf for England, said: "What a lovely honour for the man chosen to referee here - Rasta Rasivhenge from South Africa, such a delightful character and a superb rugby Sevens referee."

Sevens Finals are not unknown to Rasta. In 2011 he refereed his first Final - the Hong Kong Sevens. In 2012 he refereed successive Finals - in Dubai and Port Elizabeth and then the season-ending Final at Twickenham.

In August 2012 he was named South Africa's Referee of the Month.

The other two South African referees at the Sevens World Cup, Marlize Jordaan and Marius van der Westhuizen, have also refereed Sevens Finals in recent times. Marius was the Referee of the Month in March 2013.

South Africa had two other officials at the Sevens World Cup - Tappe Henning, an IRB selector, and Banks Yontolo, an assessor.